The Federal Government has launched a sweeping review of the presidential pardon list, following allegations that ineligible names were inserted into the document, The PUNCH has reported.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) is said to have ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the police to conduct a detailed background check on all nominees before the list is submitted to President Bola Tinubu for final approval.
According to the Punch, sources within the Ministry of Justice say that the outcome of the review could see more than half of the 175 beneficiaries removed from the list. “The government doesn’t want anyone with unresolved corruption or criminal cases to benefit from the process,” one senior official said.
The President had earlier granted clemency to 175 persons convicted of various offences, a decision announced by Fagbemi at the Council of State meeting on 9 October 2025. The list included illegal miners, white-collar offenders, drug convicts, and high-profile figures such as Maj. Gen. Mamman Vatsa, Prof. Magaji Garba, and the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and Ogoni Eight, as well as capital offenders like Maryam Sanda.
But the inclusion of certain names immediately drew objections from anti-graft and security agencies, who raised red flags over ongoing cases linked to some of the proposed beneficiaries. The EFCC, ICPC, NDLEA, and police reportedly advised that several individuals on the list failed to meet eligibility criteria.
On 16 October, Fagbemi clarified that the presidential prerogative of mercy was still “under review” and not yet finalised, amid reports that “low-level officers” on the pardon committee had “smuggled in” unapproved names. “Some of the cases are still fresh. The good thing is that they are still in custody,” a security source said.
Multiple government officials confirmed that the list had now been circulated to relevant agencies for what they described as a “comprehensive integrity screening.” The review, they said, was designed to prevent a repeat of past controversies over questionable pardons.
“The review is still ongoing. The Attorney General’s office has sent the list to all relevant agencies for proper vetting,” a senior justice ministry source said, adding that the process was in line with President Tinubu’s directive to ensure transparency and due diligence.
The Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity to the Attorney General, Kamorudeen Ogundele, also confirmed that the ministry was collaborating with security and anti-corruption agencies “to ensure the process meets all legal and ethical standards.”
Findings by The PUNCH indicate that the NDLEA, EFCC, and ICPC have begun submitting observations about certain nominees, some of whom remain under active investigation. Officials said each agency was “cross-checking the background of the nominees” before the final list is sent to the President for approval.
While several politically exposed persons—including Herbert Macaulay and Farouk Lawan—may retain their places on the list due to the non-violent nature of their offences, insiders suggest that many others could be struck off once the review is complete.
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